By Delicia Janneire | January 8, 2025
The Maritime Administration Department (MARAD) has marked significant achievements for the year 2024, including a decline in marine fatalities, an increase in passenger transport, and the successful removal of shipwrecks.
Captain Steven Thomas, Director of MARAD, highlighted the progress made in the maritime sector, including a decrease in fatalities.
Nine marine fatalities were recorded in 2024, a reduction from the eleven reported in 2023.
A major achievement for MARAD was the continued removal of shipwrecks from various marine channels, a process that started in 2022.
Capt. Thomas explained that many of the wrecks, some dating back to the 1960s and 1970s, required favorable weather conditions for their removal.
To date, 14 of the 17 sunken vessels contracted for removal by Koole. B.V., a reputable Dutch company, have been cleared, particularly from the Demerara River channel.
The removal of these wrecks is vital to ensuring the safety of vessels navigating the area.
Additionally, MARAD recorded a significant increase in passenger transport, with 9.3 million passengers traveling via water taxis in 2024.
Despite a slight decline in the number of vessels called to port (2,867 in 2024 compared to over 3,000 in 2023), the vessels received were larger, reflecting the department’s efforts to modernize the fleet.
MARAD also made strides in enhancing its infrastructure, purchasing two new pilot boats and a tugboat.
The pilot boats are being built in France, while the tugboat, under construction in China by the Dutch company Damen, is expected to arrive in Guyana by the end of the first quarter of 2025.
Other key achievements included the construction of 28 new beacons in the upper Demerara River channel, supporting the Gas-to-Energy project and BOSAI, as well as the distribution of lifejackets to schools.
Furthermore, a 150-million-dollar contract was awarded for the construction of a modern Maritime Rescue Centre, reinforcing MARAD’s commitment to enhancing safety and operational capacity.
MARAD remains responsible for the regulation and inspection of all vessels and their operations, continuing its efforts to ensure the safety and growth of Guyana’s maritime sector.